President Mam Jalal: Architect of Peace and Collector of Progressive Ideas

Walid Hamid.

Written by: Walid Hamid 

Today marks the eighth anniversary of the passing of the great leader, writer, politician, diplomat, patriot, Peshmerga and internationalist who, over more than six decades of struggle and resistance, devoted the most precious years of his life to the Kurds, Kurdistan, Iraq, and humanity as a whole.
President Mam Jalal was genuinely an architect of peace, sowing the seeds of harmony and crafting solutions across Kurdistan, Iraq, and the wider region.

Mam Jalal was both a symbol and a decisive leader, seeking solutions even under the most challenging and adverse circumstances.

The conduct of Jalal Talabani, a Kurdish, internationalist and humanitarian leader, stands out among his contemporaries. His unique approach established him as a prominent figure in Kurdish, Middle Eastern, and international spheres, where he utilised his political acumen and democratic principles to guide, influence, and inspire his team.
Even before and after the founding of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan on 1 June 1975, Jalal Talabani led through both prosperous and difficult times, serving the Kurds, all peoples of Kurdistan and Iraq, and international arenas. His strategies, rooted in the philosophy of Mesopotamia and a humanitarian vision, informed his national and global policy approach, exemplified by his "bouquet of flowers” policy.

As a key member of the Iraqi Governing Council following the fall of the Ba’ath regime in 2003, and later as President of Iraq in 2005, Mam Jalal played an instrumental role in reconciling conflicting perspectives and resolving numerous challenges, earning him the moniker “Safety valve” of Iraq.
President Mam Jalal embodied a synthesis of intellectual diversity, progressive democracy, and Kurdish identity.

For over fifty years, he championed Kurdish rights and democracy in Iraq, making difficult decisions to resolve conflicts between Kurdish parties. He also served as a mediator between Turkish President Turgut Özal and PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, seeking peaceful, democratic solutions to longstanding disputes—a pursuit that continues to this day.

The PUK was the first party in Kurdistan, and indeed globally, to recognise the Autonomous Administration and to host its representation in Sulaymaniyah. Under Mam Jalal’s leadership, the PUK actively facilitated dialogue between parties in Rojava, provided moral and financial support to the Rojava Revolution, and continues to support it today under the leadership of Bafel Jalal Talabani.

Mam Jalal consistently sought to implement socialist principles, both within Kurdistan and internationally. As a significant member of the Socialist International, he promoted socialist and democratic values, supporting progressive movements across Iraq, Kurdistan, and the wider world.

President Mam Jalal was a true architect of peace, consistently resolving conflicts and bridging divides throughout Kurdistan, Iraq, and the region. His passing in 2017 was a profound loss for the Kurds, Kurdistan, and humanity at large, as he was a unifying figure who untangled complex political challenges and fostered reconciliation.

On this eighth anniversary of his passing, we extend our deepest condolences to the family of Mam Jalal, to Bafel Jalal Talabani, President of the PUK, and to all Kurds and people worldwide who continue to be inspired by his legacy.